Oscar Martinez has long dreamed of running a successful mixed martial arts gym in his hometown and mentoring the next generation of fighters, and now that dream is becoming a reality.
Martinez, a local bail bondsman, Marine Corps veteran and mixed martial artist, has received approval from the city of Sonora to open the California Fighting Championship Training Center in a 2,400-square-foot space along Monoway, pending final renovations to the building and surrounding area.
“It's perfect for us. We feel safe,” Martinez said, standing in the new space. “Now we can sit back, breathe and watch the gym expand because it's here. We're here.”
The gym, which will be open to the public, will offer lessons in self-defense, mixed martial arts, boxing and kickboxing, and Martinez plans to be open Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Children between the ages of 9 and 16 with parental permission are admitted to the gym for free, as are MMA fighters who train at the gym. Non-fighter members over the age of 16 pay a monthly membership fee of $100 for unlimited access.
Martinez said expenses will total about $3,200. He said he would need to secure at least 32 members to break even, but he said he's not worried.
“It's all about the future,” he says. “If our kids don't have discipline, structure, integrity and work ethic, where are we going to be?”
Martinez says his drive to provide safe, healthy activities for others stems from his own troubled upbringing: After returning to Sonora from his Marine Corps tour of duty in 1997, he struggled to readjust to family life while battling alcoholism.
“I was a severe alcoholic. Within a year of getting out of the Marines, I was arrested for DUI three times in this county,” Martinez said. “Whether I was drunk, intoxicated, high, high, whatever state I was in, I couldn't pursue my dreams in any way, shape or form.”
While Martinez envisions a bright future for the new gym, the building it currently sits in has a dark history.
The Mono Way site was originally built in 1955 by Vicko Paksinj, a Croatian immigrant who moved to Sonora in 1907 and founded the neighboring Vicko Station in 1928.
The property was most recently owned by Paksiny's great-grandson, Borislav Radosavljevic, who inherited it from his uncle Anton Paksiny in 2007. Radosavljevic sold the property in October 2023 and now splits his time between Sacramento and Europe.
Radosavljevic rented the property to beloved local mechanic and derby car driver Ricky Roberts, who was murdered by his abandoned ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Lucero, in the building's auto shop on February 16, 2014, just over a decade ago.
Roberts, 49, of Sonora, was found face-down in a derby car repair shop. Lucero, 46, was convicted of first-degree murder and a firearm offense in the shooting death of Roberts.
The Monoway building's tragic history has haunted it ever since: in the decade since the shocking murders, the building has remained largely vacant, although Radosevljevic said a small, specialist car restoration business had operated out of the building for the past six or seven years.
Radosevljevic sold the building and several other properties along Mono Way and nearby Vicco Lane in October for a combined total of $1.2 million, according to public records from the county recorder's office.
The buyer was Noda 1, LLC, which had a mailing address in San Diego, according to California Secretary of State records. Representatives for the company could not be reached for comment.
Despite the building's tragic history, Martinez said he's committed to creating a positive space for the community along Monoway. He hopes he can help write off the past by building the best gym possible for the future.
“People perceive the building that way because of what happened there,” Martinez said. “What happened to Ricky is something we can’t look away from, but it’s not the only thing.
“We're going to bring something positive. It certainly has happened, but look at this gym right now. Think about what you can do to make yourself better.”
Martinez said he first noticed the building four months ago while driving down Monoway and saw a “For Rent” sign outside, immediately saw the opportunity and jumped on board.
“I pulled up, called him, met with him the next day and signed the paperwork,” Martinez said. “Within 24 hours he was at my office, we cut him a check and he started working right away. The next day we were here, scrubbing windows, cleaning up trash outside, trying to make people want to have us here.”
The 1,000+ square foot wrestling space is flanked by a boxing ring and full-size MMA cage along the gym's back wall, while to the left, an assortment of punching bags line the edge of the weightlifting area.
The upper level features cardio equipment and a sauna, overlooking the gym's vibrant red, yellow and black color scheme.
Martinez, along with his longtime coach and friend James Holman, will teach students self-defense, mixed martial arts, boxing and kickboxing.
“James is really great with kids, he's really good with them,” Martinez said of Holman. “That's what I like about him.”
Parents and guardians of students who have trained under Martinez and Holman in the past said they are excited to see Martinez finally find a gym he can call home long-term.
Holly Norman said her grandson, Mason, started training with Martinez several years ago.
“I was talking to him one day about my grandson and how I wanted to get him away from the PlayStation,” Norman said. “He said, 'Bring him to the gym,' so I did. My grandson fell in love with it after the first session, and we just kept going.”
Crystal Falls resident Lee Freitas said his two sons have benefited greatly from training with Martinez and he's looking forward to the gym opening soon.
“I think the confidence and that kind of structured training is a good foundation for them,” Freitas said. “I'd rather have them doing something physical. It's healthy for them mentally and physically.”
Martinez has run a few small mixed martial arts gyms and taught individual students in the Sonora area since 2008, but has struggled to expand into spaces large enough to run a viable business.
Initial plans to open a sprawling 3,200-square-foot gym on the property on Shaw's Flat Road fell apart when Martinez realized he couldn't fit a septic tank large enough for the building.
“I've already bought the building and everything, so now I'm going to sell the building and put the money into this,” Martinez said, gesturing around him.
Sonora Community Development Director Tyler Somersett said the city is excited to see the building revitalized under Martinez's stewardship.
“The city recognizes that this is a high-profile zone along the Monoway and an important part of the visual experience here in Sonora,” Somerset said, “and we're very pleased to see a dilapidated building that's been closed for at least a few years now be transformed into an attraction for the Sonora community that gets people excited, looks great and is something that will build the community here.”
Because the Mono Way property is zoned Limited Multifamily Housing, a dense residential area, Martinez had to apply for a five-year conditional use permit from the city's Planning Commission.
He attended the commission's public meeting June 10 and laid out his vision for the gym.
“It was like preparing for a fight,” Martinez said. “It's nerve-wracking. You don't know what's going to happen. You don't know if people are going to accept your idea.”
The proposal was accepted, subject to some conditions.
Required improvements to the facility include the construction of at least 12 parking spaces to accommodate gym patrons and the installation of a sturdy, four-foot-tall fence between the gym and nearby residential areas.
“We're hopeful he'll open as soon as possible, but it all depends on meeting the planning commission's conditions,” Somerset said.
Martinez said they purchased new air conditioners to cool the entire building, replaced the electrical system, pressure washed and painted the floors and cleaned the second-floor room that will become a sauna.
The renovations are nearly complete, and all that remains is final approval from the city, which Somerset said he expects will come as soon as next month, allowing Martinez to open the doors and welcome the community to the California Fighting Championship Training Center.
Martinez said he hopes his gym can make a difference in someone's life, even if it's just a small change.
“You have to be disciplined, come to work every day, do your training, have a work ethic, and this job cultivates that,” Martinez said. “That's my goal: to save one child, to save a life.”
